Syrian President Bashar al-Assad meets with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari in Damascus, Syria October 15, 2018. SANA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THIS IMAGE

October 20, 2018

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met representatives of Russia’s foreign and defense ministries in Damascus on Friday, Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

During the meeting, they discussed development of situation in Syria and reaffirmed their commitment to the “destruction of terrorist presence” and advancement toward a long-term political settlement in the interest of all Syrians.